It doesn't top many lists of iconic cycling destinations, but the Kansas City area is fast developing a thriving bike scene. The city itself was recognized last year by the League of American Bicyclists for its car-free weekends and new bike-lane construction. The greater metropolitan area is a playground for cyclists, with a vast urban trail network and surprisingly varied topography: lumpy hills to the north, flats to the south, and rolling plains to the west. Mud-and-cowbell culture is vibrant--there's a cyclocross event nearly every fall and winter weekend. In 2008, the city hosted the national championships, where the solitary racer below pedaled to keep warm in a blustery wind.

Make a Wish
Kansas City is home to more than 200 fountains, second in number only to Rome, Italy. Traverse the limestone-lined Cliff Drive Scenic Byway and toss a coin into bubbling waters during the City of Fountains Bicycle Tour, held every June. Routes cater to all abilities and ages, and range from 9 to 39 miles.

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'Cue Up an Appetite
Taste KC's signature tomato-and-molasses-based sauce and you'll understand why the city claims to be the barbecue capital of the world. Each fall, sample some of the city's best on the Tour de BBQ. The 15-, 35-, and 62-mile routes are punctuated by pit stops at six of the area's most famous rib joints.

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Shred Some Dirt
There are nearly 20 miles of singletrack carved into the hillsides of Swope Park, and the city plans to link these trails with nearby Blue Valley Parkway to create a 50-mile network. The Spoke Pony Showdown (named for the park's equestrian police stables) draws hundreds for three-and six-hour mountain bike races every August.

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